Balochistan is facing a dangerously escalating child malnutrition crisis that, if left unchecked, could develop into a full-scale humanitarian disaster. A large number of children in Balochistan are suffering from severe food shortages, poverty, inadequate healthcare facilities, and a lack of clean drinking water.
According to available data, over 75 percent of children in Balochistan suffer from malnutrition and stunting (low height for age), while only 25 percent have access to sufficient food. The root causes include widespread poverty and unemployment, which prevent millions of families from meeting their daily nutritional needs.
The situation is worsened by the near absence or dysfunction of primary healthcare centers in rural areas, and the consumption of contaminated water that contributes to stomach diseases and worsens nutritional deficiencies. The Balochistan government and local authorities’ lack of attention has allowed the crisis to spiral out of control.
Data shows that every second child in Balochistan faces nutritional deficiency. Nutrition surveys across all 36 districts reveal widespread malnutrition. Experts explain that severe malnutrition manifests in two forms: acute malnutrition, where children appear thin and wasted and suffer in the early stages, and chronic malnutrition, which causes permanent stunting of height and brain development – an irreversible condition that can only be managed, not cured.
Children born with complications require hospitalization, as nutritional supplementation alone cannot save them. Furthermore, only 75.3 percent of the population has access to clean water, aggravating the situation further.
Previously, with World Bank support, screening and nutritional aid programs operated in seven districts – Nushki, Kharan, Zhob, Qila Saifullah, Kohlu, Sibi, and Panjgur – but these initiatives have now ceased.
Medical professionals warn that malnourished children not only suffer from stunted growth but also have weakened immune systems, making them vulnerable to diseases like measles, which can be deadly. These children require special treatment protocols due to their low weight and developmental delays.
Balochistan has been under a declared nutrition emergency since 2018, but due to lack of funding, the nutrition department continues to wait for grants to combat the crisis effectively. Funding shortages present major challenges for authorities trying to respond.
Experts attribute the crisis to poverty, decreased breastfeeding rates, floods, drought, and food insecurity. In the town of Buleda, Sabaa’s story reflects this grim reality. Despite her young age, Sabaa appears much smaller than children her age due to malnutrition. Her father told The Balochistan Post that following border closures, milk supplies stopped, and extreme poverty has made survival difficult. This is not an isolated case; many families across Balochistan share similar struggles due to widespread unemployment.
Sabaa’s father explained that malnutrition is physically wasting his daughter, and the lack of healthcare centers in the area means traveling to Turbat or Karachi for treatment is impossible as they cannot afford the transportation costs.
Corruption within the Balochistan health department is cited as a key factor exacerbating this crisis. Although significant funds have been allocated for combating diseases such as malaria, polio, and typhoid, ongoing corruption and political instability have hindered effective implementation, further deteriorating the health situation in Balochistan.
If urgent action is not taken, the malnutrition crisis in Balochistan threatens to worsen, endangering the lives and futures of thousands of children.